NFL fans will get familiar with the backdrop of the French Quarter this January when they tune in to ESPN during Super Bowl week. ESPN will broadcast from the Jax Brewery parking lot on Decatur Street from Jan. 28 to Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3.

ESPN will broadcast more than 120 hours of live programming, concluding with Super Bowl XLVII, which will be held in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and broadcast on CBS.

ESPN has been scouting locations in New Orleans since November 2011 and looked at several places, including Jackson Square, where CBS will be broadcasting.

"We always look for what is going to tell our viewers we're in New
Orleans," Markman said Tuesday. "I felt like that scene is the quintessential
French Quarter scene. I saw the people walking through, the
architecture, I could see the skyline of downtown as we panned to the
left. I just thought it was a great location."

ESPN broadcasted from Pan American Plaza in Indianapolis during week of Super Bowl XLVI.Chris Bergin/ESPN Images

Additionally, Jax will give ESPN production teams the space to construct their sets and will allow for big crowds, Markman said. ESPN will construct two outdoor sets, including a 40x40-foot main stage and a 24x24-foot second stage.

They'll also have a demo field, two pod camera locations, and a "flycam" suspended 30 feet in the air, Markman said. Construction on the sets will begin a week before they start broadcasting.

"In this parking lot we're able to do a really large setup," Markman said. "The fly cam really gives a unique angle on what we're doing and the crowd, businesses, hotels, everything. We're able to accomplish a lot."

All ESPN shows, including "SportsCenter," "NFL Live" and a special Super Bowl edition of "Sunday NFL Countdown," will be open to the public.

"We love doing shows in front of the crowds," Markman said. "I see the energy that our on-air folks get from the charge of the Super Bowl crowds. It really just drives them to be even better on TV."

ESPN the Magazine also will host the NEXT party in New Orleans, with a location to be announced at a later date. Last year, the party was held in the Jobsite Supply Warehouse in Indianapolis.

One of the best things about being back in New Orleans, Markman said, is the lack of weather issues, which plagued the team in Dallas two years ago, and was a concern in Indianapolis last year.

"Indianapolis was great, we had a great experience there, but we were worried about the weather and had to make some concessions, although it turned out we didn't need it," Markman said. "We're happy to be back in a nice warm weather state."

Markman, who has been at ESPN 19 years and working on NFL shows for more than a decade, said he's excited to see the Super Bowl in New Orleans after a 10-year absence.

"We certainly miss New Orleans," he said. "It should always be in the Super Bowl rotation. It's a great Super Bowl town. ... I think we're going to have a great atmosphere all week ... and we're thrilled to be back."